FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Dan Finanger
Executive Director
763-287-3888, Ext. 12
Corley Goodwin
Media & Public Relations Manager
763-287-3888, Ext. 13
Champions and Record-Holders Headline Twin Cities Marathon 2003
TCM again hosts USA Masters Championship
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - (Oct. 1, 2003) - A pack of former Twin Cities Marathon
(TCM) champions and record-holders headline the elite field for the 2003
TCM. Four runners who have broken the State Capitol finish tape - including
three who still own records from their accomplishments on the roads between
Minneapolis and St. Paul - will line up on Sunday, Oct. 5 to see if they
cannot etch some additional lines into the 22nd year history of the event.
A prize purse of $182,000 awaits the runners, and a jackpot of $10,000 is
an incentive for course records. The race winners will receive $20,000 each
for their accomplishments. Race winners who break the course records -
2:10:05 for men, 2:26:51 for women - will split or take whole the record
jackpot.
TCM also serves again as the USATF National Masters Championship for the
12th consecutive year, and a top masters (40+) field is expected.
"We are excited to have such an outstanding field of both foreign and
American runners," said TCM Executive Director Dan Finanger. "It would also
be great if we got a new course record."
TCM men's champions from 2001 and 2002 - Sergey Fedotov of Russia and
Joshua Kipkemboi of Kenya, respectively - are expected to renew their
rivalry at the "Most Beautiful Urban Marathon in America." Kipkemboi, 44,
who finished second last year in a PR 2:11:45 (and a U.S. All-Comers
Masters Record), seeks to prove once again he's ageless when it comes to
running. Perhaps the most confident male racer coming into the event is
Kenyan master Jackson Kipng'ok, who finished third last year in 2:11:51.
Joining that threesome is a diverse collection of world marathoning talent,
including Frank Pooe and Hendrick Maako of South Africa, Mitsunori Hirayama
of Japan, Fedor Ryzhov a master from Russia, Margarito Alonso of Mexico,
Bruce Deacon an Olympian from Canada, and Kenyans Julius Kimtai, Daniel
Cheruiyot and Gabriel Muchiri. Master runner Eddy Hellebuyck and Teddy
Mitchell both of Albuquerque, N.M. and Curtis Moore of Riverton, Utah are
likely to be the top Americans across the finish line. Team USA Minnesota's
Mike Wisniewski, in his debut, is expected to carry the banner for
Minnesotans.
For the women, defending TCM Champion and TCM masters record-holder Irina
Bogacheva of Kyrgystan and three-time TCM Champion and course record-holder
Zinaida Semenova of Russia are expected to battle for this year's title.
Bogacheva, who won last year's TCM in a masters record 2:29:39, ran a
string of strong marathons this spring to prove that, even at 42, she's not
slowing down. Semonova, who will make her debut as a TCM master, sports the
2:26:51 course record she set here in 2001 and comes armed with the
experience over TCM's streets, avenues and parkways gained in her three
wins here.
But neither runner should focus only on a single rival. The women's field
is full of potential champions. 1995 World Championships Marathon silver
medalist Anuta Catuna of Romania is sure to play a role in the outcome.
Likewise, Tatyana Gladyr of Ukraine, Irina Safarova, Tatiana Borisova and
Natalia Volgina all of Russia are all strong contenders. American hopefuls
Naoko Ishibe of Silver Spring, Md., Blake Russell of Acton, Mass., Nicole
Hunt of Deer Lodge, Montana, Michelle Simonaitis of Draper, Utah, and
Minnesota natives, Turena Johnson-Lane, and Johanna Olson of Team USA
Minnesota are likely to place high in the results.
The 2003 Twin Cities Marathon weekend is Oct. 3-5. The three-day weekend
celebration of fitness includes a 5K run/walk, family fitness mile,
children's fun runs, pasta dinner, two-day health and fitness expo and a
10-mile race in addition to the marathon. Twin Cities Marathon, a Running
USA Founding Member, continues its 12th consecutive year as the designated
USA Masters Championship for both men and women. Major corporate sponsors
for the marathon are Cub Foods and Seagate Technology. The major media
sponsors are KARE 11 and Cities 97. Twin Cities Marathon, Inc. is a
non-profit organization that directs the TCM weekend as a community service
for the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. Visit us at www.twincitiesmarathon.org.
The 2003 Twin Cities Marathon weekend is October 3-5. The three-day
weekend celebration of fitness includes a 5K run/walk, children's fun runs,
pasta dinner, two-day health and fitness expo and a 10-mile race in
addition to the marathon. Twin Cities Marathon continues its 12th
consecutive year as the designated USATF National Masters Championship for
men and women. Major corporate sponsors for the marathon are Cub Foods and
Seagate Technology. The major media sponsors are KARE 11 and Cities 97.
Twin Cities Marathon, Inc. is a non-profit organization that directs the
TCM weekend as a community service for the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.
Visit us at www.twincitiesmarathon.org.
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